“I think we encourage each other, and you know, comradery. We’re proud of each other for doing it.”

66-year-old Joe Schardt said her fear of guns brought her to Sim Training in Moraine, “I didn’t even want to be in the same room.”

After four days, and sixteen hours of training she said she now has a healthy respect for firearms.

“Because the guns don’t shoot you by themselves. You know, people who have bad intentions shoot you.”

Ashley Rentz is a mother of three, “A lot of times I’m out alone with my kids later in the evening.”

She also has plans to become a police officer.

While their motives differ, instructors said there’s been an obvious increase in the number of women coming to train.

“Over the last year or two, I think I’ve seen it go from probably a 50/50 split to even more women dominated and I think that’s great,” said Arabella Callejo.

Jeff Pedro, the owner of the indoor shooting range, said “I think the biggest thing is for women to feel that it’s okay for them to feel safe and secure wherever they are in society.”

Pedro also said getting a CHL is a stepping stone to actually defending yourself should you need to.

“This is just a jump off point– that they have to practice, that they have to take periodic training, additional training, from the initial fifteen hours. And they need to stay proficient use of their firearm and they need to mentally be prepared for situations which requires that they start thinking outside their comfort zone often times.”